Tottenham are one more step towards the dreamland of fourth place and Champions League football next season. Harry Redknapp might just be leading the white part of north London into the European Cup for the first time since 1961 – 49 long years ago — a prospect helped along by Liverpool's draw at Wolves.

That result meant Spurs are now a clear victory ahead of the team from Merseyside, who are fifth and continuing to struggle for consistency.

Fulham, for their part, suggested only intermittently that they might deny Redknapp's men three points, a haul they had not managed since 28 December, when West Ham were defeated here.

"We deserved it, we dominated and our keeper didn't have too much to do," a happy Redknapp said. "Three points for Tottenham, that's the main thing. We've been playing well."

So, too, has Chris Smalling, the Fulham central defender Manchester United had announced yesterday would join them this summer. Last night, given his second Premier League start, he was quick, unfazed and memorably dumped Peter Crouch on his backside during the first half to let the England striker, and neutrals, know what he can be about.

Roy Hodgson, his manager, purred when discussing Smalling's quality. "Sir Alex Ferguson doesn't make mistakes when he finds a young player," he said. "He realises it will look very cheap inyears to come. We've known we had a diamond in our midst but unfortunately when you are Fulham you're aware that diamonds can be taken away by clubs with more power."

Hodgson had been conscious that his team have yet to enjoy a league win in 2010, their previous victory being the resounding 3-0 defeat of United at the Cottage before Christmas. And barely a minute had passed when they nearly allowed Tottenham to score. Jermain Defoe, who had a quiet game, flicked the ball across the edge of the 18-yard line. This allowed Tom Huddlestone to unleash a swerving effort that Mark Schwarzer tipped around the post to concede a corner.

While that amounted to nothing there was further evidence of the Spurs play developed by Redknapp, which consists of easy technique and a slick touch while relaying ball from back to front at speed.

After Huddlestone had prompted David Bentley to probe the right flank, and Gareth Bale had failed with similar attempts from his left-back berth to involve Luka Modric, the home side nearly conceded.

From a corner taken by Damien Duff the ball broke back to the winger. He advanced and delivered a cross from the right that fell to Bobby Zamora but Heurelho Gomes smothered the shot.

Crouch was then upended by Smalling but after 27 minutes it was the striker who wore the grin. Bentley, starting in the league for the first time since October, swung in a high ball with his left foot. When the ball broke to Modric, the Croat midfielder bicycle kicked the ball back into the goalmouth and Crouch tipped it beyond Schwarzer for his fifth league goal this season. "It was nice to get the first one," he said. "And after the second we played some good football."

That second arrived from Bentley's boot. Bale drew the foul, having found himself sandwiched between two Fulham players to the left of their area. Bentley's free-kick had dip but after glancing the head of Bjorn Helge Riise in the wall the ball floated beyond the wrong-footed Schwarzer into the net.

That marked the end of any Fulham resistance. Spurs will be hoping to end January's final week with consecutive victories and six invaluable points. Crouch added: "It's important for us that we pick up points when others around us drop them. It'll be good at the end of the season – Liverpool are a top side and will be right in there, we have to make sure we are."

They certainly are, currently. At St Andrew's on Saturday, against Alex McLeish's Birmingham City, Redknapp, his team and Liverpool may learn more of how their campaign might end.